But because he got by mostly on his wrestling skills, Severn said, he didn't take as much head trauma as some of his peers. That fascination with knockouts that exists in the sport today is one of the things he can't quite understand. The way fans seem to only want to see two people bash one another's heads in? The way fighters would rather curl up and get thumped on than tap out to strikes when they've clearly quit fighting back?

"It's almost like they're saving face," Severn said. "Like, hey, they didn't tap out. The referee stopped the match. What they don't realize, maybe because of their youth, is that every time you get hit, you lose something."

It's an interesting perspective. I think the majority of the time if you're compus mentis enough to be debating whether you should tap or not, you're also compus mentis enough to think about trying to escape/improve your position/defend. The ref steps in when you can't do the defending anymore. How many times have you seen guys in severely rough spots, who managed to come back and win? Whilst there's congnitive thought left in me I'm going to use it to fight/survive.

If you're taking alot of damage and can't defend yourself then I can't see why people have a problem with tapping to strikes, rather than potentially taking further unnecessary punishment and potential injury. Live to fight another day! I think most guys who frown upon it have probably never competed in any combat sport. Imo it takes incredible courage to even step in to the ring/cage, I hate the fact that fighters get shit on because they look to get out of there when all they are doing is taking damage. It's a sport after all, not a punch up!

it's an interesting perspective. I think the majority of the time if you're compus mentis enough to be debating whether you should tap or not, you're also compus mentis enough to think about trying to escape/improve your position/defend. The ref steps in when you can't do the defending anymore. How many times have you seen guys in severely rough spots, who managed to come back and win? Whilst there's congnitive thought left in me i'm going to use it to fight/survive.